Get packing.

I have done a lot of long-haul flights over the years and have learned from those times when my luggage went one way and me another, to always pack a change of clothes, extra underwear and a nightie in my hand luggage!
Check lists are vital, as is an itinerary for when you arrive. Nothing worse than wasting precious days because you haven't planned out your sightseeing activities etc.
Photo copies of all your documents placed in the bottom of your suitcase, plus tape extra contact details inside same suitcase
Be ruthless with what you pack. Take only what you really need. It's too easy to over pack, then you have the problem of excess weight with all the goodies you had to buy to bring back.
It's also well worth getting your main suitcase plastic wrapped at the airport if you are going to any destination where security may not be up to par. It's a pain to get off on arrival, but well worth the knowledge that no-one has been able to help themselves to your stuff.

I have done a lot of long-haul flights over the years and have learned from those times when my luggage went one way and me another, to always pack a change of clothes, extra underwear and a nightie in my hand luggage!
Yes, always pack enough for at least an unexpected overnight stay plus small toiletries and all the medication you may need for the whole trip.
Another tip if having to change planes on a long-haul flight is to put everything in your hold luggage into one of those large zipped polythene bags (underbed storage bags are good). Sometimes luggage gets left on the tarmac and if there is bad weather and a delay it can get soaked through.
If going via Hong Kong airport take your thermals in your hand luggage
Type your name and where you will be staying on a sheet of A4 and put inside your hold luggage as well as a label on the outside; take another one with your home address for the return journey.

One back pack, one set of clothes on and one set spare, spare socks, all in one shower gel/shampoo, emery board, hand gel, prescription meds. One hat, spare shoes (travel in hiking boots as too big to pack) One waterproof, electric adaptor/charger. Glasses prescription, copies of all documents put in the cloud. Tamper proof wallet that cannot be scanned. Phone.

Now if OH is with me he packs the kitchen sink and spends most of the time looking for things!! In fact last time he flew to meet me somewhere he had lost his onward boarding pass within 5 mins.

Wow thank you all for this juts shows how complicated it is. My problem is the baggage allowance so we have purchased some digital scales so we can do the weigh it chuck it out samba a few days before. I just wish I was good at creating flexible outfits that I could 'dress up and dress down' ideally I would like 2 - 3 complete changes of clothes for each day but the baggage allowance doesn't cope with that.

I am always envious of people who can go away with a 'capsule wardrobe'.

Then I wonder if they have to spend a lot of time washing things out by hand.

Teetime life is as complicated as you wish to make it ? Forgot my toothbrush by the way in previous post!!

I think those of us who travel light have an uncomplicated wardrobe ar home, if that makes sense? I don't do patterns, unless you count spots and stripes as patterns. Scarves/ necklaces/ earrings can glam up the simplest outfit.
I always work round the shoes, max 2 pairs, that includes the pair I have on.
In case there might be a chilly evening I wear a good jumper with a black shawl on the plane ( luggage restrictions etc)

We go away for 3 or 4 months. Pack enough clothes for a week and take 2 pair of shoes. So what takes up the rest of the room in case? Medication, travel iron and 6 books ( prefer them to my kindle). I buy all my toiletries out in Asia as they are so much cheaper. Oh yes and my decaf coffee, and a packet of soup for emergencies and we have at times needed it! Also we each do our own packing and when I take a sneaky look in his case I do wonder if we are going on the same trip!

Makes me relieved that I've not been abroad for years apart from a couple of cruises.
Packing is so much easier when it all goes in the boot of the car

E-mail a copy of your documents to yourself and a relative/friend. Then if anything is lost/stolen you can get a copy.

Packing cubes and more packing cubes! There's some good stuff on YouTube about packing - how to roll garments etc.

If limited on space or weight .I buy toiletries from Boots in duty free I've also done same with makeup.
I save my points throughout the year to use at airport for this purpose.
This also helps with liquids if only carrying carry on luggage.

I have some bikini bags £1 each from Primark, they are lined (to put wet bikini in) and zip up. I use them for first aid, chargers and make up

We have a list ready for our visits to DD2 in Yorkshire to save messing about.
This is expanded when we go further afield. We're off to France end of August and already have thought of things like tea bags and bags for supermarket shop too.

Crikey!! is all I can say!!

It never seems to matter how long we are going away for 2 days or 2 weeks, the car always seems full, boot and back seats.

Can I just say to those of you travelling with airlines such as Ryanair or to small airports - you sometimes need to walk out on the Tarmac with your hand luggage and carry it up the stairs - these are very steep and narrow - I only had a small handsized case but would have had great trouble if I had needed to carry it and I find lifting it up into the overhead space is very difficult ( height plays a part here!) besides which they are often not really big enough.

Not much to add here except to say the photocopying of documents is a great idea.
One thing that I find saves a lot of time is to have my wash bag permanently stocked with deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, shower gel, eye make up remover, hairspray etc so that I don't have to re pack it each time.
We go away quite a lot on short trips to visit family and friends and when we come back I just remove anything that's running low, transfer it to the bathroom at home and put a new one in the wash bag.
I've got a store of free samples of toothpaste, face cream etc that are really good for short trips.

Jane That's why I said 'photo copy', because sometimes nothing beats that piece of paper in your hand. I know, because it happened to me.

I can do one suitcase OK but anyone who does the carry-on luggage only thing please can you tell me what you do about things like nail-scissors (I usually need them) large bottles of sun-cream/moisturiser etc? I can't manage with the tiny bottle you are allowed in hand luggage. Always roll things. I go for mix and match trousers and tops with a skirt and dress for special occasions. Always pack vest tops for under shirts and sun bathing. Wear layers for the plane journey- it's always cold her in N.E so can remove/add as needed.

I buy sunscreen and hairspray at the airside chemist's shop. However, I have almost given up on 'hand luggage only' because nowadays I'm finding it too much to cope with even quite a small wheeled case. At Manchester and Edinburgh Airports there are stairs to be negotiated although there's a lift - for staff use only. Also, there's a clause on the booking web site that says we must be able to lift our bags into - and out of - the overhead lockers. I've been lucky to find kindly men prepared to help a 'little old granny', but you never know when the luck might run out. So I've taken to checking in my luggage which I consider to be worth the extra cost - and means I can take my Swiss Army knife.

Good point trisher, about the nail scissors. Must ask DD as she travels the world with just carry-on case. She says she buys trouser suits that also have a skirt and silk blouses weigh hardly anything, I am talking business trips so they are formal clothes. Holiday trips consist of shorts and light floaty things, wears the heaviest pair of shoes and packs the sandals, it helps that DD is only size 6 and not very tall

Great advice from everyone. A little addition. I have a small draw string cotton bag in which I keep things for the bedside such as clock, torch, medication, lip balm etc. So handy each evening to know everything is there without searching the case.

I think there is a small limited length of blade that you are allowed to take nowadays - and nail scissors would certainly be within that limit.

Why carry a large bottle of sunscreen with you? Just a little tube for when you arrive should be enough. Sunscreen is available at all holiday resorts, and, as has been said, in some places it's cheaper!

I intentionally didn't take any toiletries with me when we went to the US, intending to have fun buying stuff there, but I was shocked at the prices once there and disappointed in the choice - it was no different from at home, really. Except there were no cheap products for €2.49 a bottle. The cheapest started at around $7!

Oh yes - copying passports etc is important. I seem to have got out of the habit of that.

I'll make an extra copy to leave at home while I'm at it.

www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/personal-items

Here are the rules. Blades of up to 6 cm are allowed - scissors, pocket knives, knitting needles, tweezers etc.